Bhubaneswar: Marking India’s 80th Independence Day with a dash for a cause, the Association of Odias in Australia (ORIOZ) organised a 5-km fun run at Parramatta Park, Sydney, on Saturday to raise funds for charity.The community raised $500 donated by participants. The amount will go to The Smith Family, an Australian charity dedicated to supporting disadvantaged children and young people and helping them achieve their educational goals.More than 100 Odia community members from all age groups took part in the event. A special highlight of the morning was children singing the Indian National Anthem, followed by the Australian National Anthem, reflecting the strong friendship between India and Australia.“It is an honour to be part of an event like this. Initiatives such as this help our future generation understand the importance of India’s Independence Day while bringing our community together for a meaningful cause,” said Manoj Lenka, one of the participants.Speaking on the occasion, ORIOZ president Tapas Senapati said that Independence Day is not only an occasion to celebrate India’s freedom and heritage, but also an opportunity to reflect on the values of community, compassion and contribution.